Hendrickson develops new suspension for Sinotruk under partnership deal03 August 2010

US-based Hendrickson has concluded a strategic agreement with Sinotruk, under which it will design, develop and manufacture advanced rubber suspensions for the latter's heavy-duty trucks in China.

Sinotruk (Hong Kong) is an affiliate of China National Heavy Duty Truck Company (CNHTC), China's largest manufacturer of heavy trucks, and the new units are being designed for the challenging conditions on Chinese roads.

Hendrickson says it will unveil its advanced suspension at the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, in September.

A spokesperson claims that it is "designed to balance outstanding durability with significant weight savings for increased payload, compared to traditional suspension designs".

He also suggests that the suspension "is dramatically lighter than any competitive products offered in the Chinese market" and that it "offers premium ride quality in both empty and loaded conditions, with increasing stability as the load increases".

The company recently opened a production facility in China, capable of producing 35,000 truck suspensions annually for CNHTC.

In 2009, Sinotruk shipped more than 125,000 trucks from production sites in Jinan, the capital of the province of Shandong.